# Create an Apache Cassandra data source with SSL

Procedure: Enable the Database Tools and SQL plugin

This functionality relies on the  Database Tools and SQL plugin, which  is bundled and enabled in IntelliJ IDEA   by default. If the relevant features are not available, make sure that you did not disable the plugin.

> **Note:**
> Database Tools and SQL functionality support is limited in IntelliJ IDEA without the Ultimate subscription.

1. Press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Plugins`.

2. Open the Installed tab, find the Database Tools and SQL plugin, and select the checkbox next to the plugin name.

## Step 1. Create a Apache Cassandra data source

Procedure:

To connect to a database, create a data source that will store your connection details.

1. Select the data source you want to create. You can do this using one of the following ways:

* In the main menu, go to `File | New | Data Source` and select Apache Cassandra.

* In the Database tool window , click ![the New icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.add.svg) New on the toolbar. Navigate to Data Source and select Apache Cassandra.

![Create a new data source](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/create_new_data_source.png)

2. Check if there is a Download missing driver files link at the bottom of the connection settings area. Click this link to download drivers that are required to interact with a database. For a direct download link, refer to the [JetBrains JDBC drivers](https://www.jetbrains.com/datagrip/jdbc-drivers/) page.

![The Download missing driver files link](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_connection_download_missing_drivers_link.png)

Location for the downloaded JDBC drivers is the [IntelliJ IDEA configuration directory](directories-used-by-the-ide-to-store-settings-caches-plugins-and-logs.html#config-directory).

You can also use your drivers for the database instead of the provided ones. For more information about connecting to a database with your driver, refer to [Add a user driver to an existing connection](jdbc-drivers.html#configure_a_jdbc_driver_for_an_existing_data_source).

If there is no Download missing driver files link, then you already have the required drivers.

3. In Host, Keyspace, User, Password, and Port fields, specify connection details.

## Step 2. Verify the version of the JDBC driver

Verify that you use the JDBC driver of version 1.3, or later.

Procedure:

1. Open data source properties by doing one of the following:

* On the Database tool window toolbar, click ![The Data Sources icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/database-plugin.icons.expui.manageDataSources.svg) Data Sources.

* Press `Shift+Enter` (Windows), `⌘ I` (macOS), `⇧ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ I` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Shift+Enter` (XWin), `Shift+Enter` (GNOME), `Shift+Enter` (KDE), `Shift+Enter` (Emacs), `Shift+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌘ I` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Shift+Enter` (NetBeans), `Shift+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌘ I` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Shift+Enter` (Eclipse), `⌘ I` (Eclipse (macOS)) .

![Open the Data Source and Drivers dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/open_data_sources_and_drivers_dialog.png)

2. In the Drivers tab, select Apache Cassandra.

3. In the Driver files pane, click ver. <version_number> and select `Latest` or `1.3`.

![Verify the version of the JDBC driver](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_ssl_tutorial_cassandra_driver_version.png)

## Step 3. Set VM options

Procedure:

1. Open data source properties by doing one of the following:

* On the Database tool window toolbar, click ![The Data Sources icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/database-plugin.icons.expui.manageDataSources.svg) Data Sources.

* Press `Shift+Enter` (Windows), `⌘ I` (macOS), `⇧ ⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ I` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Shift+Enter` (XWin), `Shift+Enter` (GNOME), `Shift+Enter` (KDE), `Shift+Enter` (Emacs), `Shift+Enter` (Sublime Text), `⌘ I` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Shift+Enter` (NetBeans), `Shift+Enter` (Visual Studio), `⌘ I` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Shift+Enter` (Eclipse), `⌘ I` (Eclipse (macOS)) .

![Open the Data Source and Drivers dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/open_data_sources_and_drivers_dialog.png)

2. In the Drivers tab, select Apache Cassandra.

3. In the driver settings, click the Advanced tab.

4. In the VM options field, specify options for authentication.

* Server authentication: your client verifies that the server is correct and trusted. The truststore must contain a public key of the server or the CA certificate that was used to sign the server key. ``` -Djavax.net.ssl.trustStore=<path_to_client_truststore> -Djavax.net.ssl.trustStorePassword=<truststore_password> ```

* Client authentication: the server verifies the client that tries to connect to the server. ``` -Djavax.net.ssl.keyStore=<path_to_client_keystore> -Djavax.net.ssl.keyStorePassword=<keystore_password> ```

![Set VM options](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_cassandra_vm_options.png)

> **Tip:**
> For more information about JSSE system properties, refer to  [Java Secure Socket Extension (JSSE)
> Reference Guide](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/security/jsse/JSSERefGuide.html#Customization).

## Step 4. Add the sslenabled option to the JDBC URL

Procedure:

1. Add the `sslenabled=true` option to the JDBC URL. For example, `jdbc:cassandra://localhost:9042/?sslenabled=true`.

2. Ensure that the database connection can be established using the provided details. To do this, click the Test Connection  link at the bottom of the connection details section.

![Test Connection link](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_test_connection_link.png)

If you encounter any connection issues, refer to the [Cannot connect to a database](connectivity-problems.html) page.

3. (Optional) By default, only the default     keyspace is  introspected and available to work with. If you also want to work with other      keyspaces , in the Schemas tab, select them for the introspection.

![Schemas tab of the Data Sources and Drivers dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_connection_schemas_tab.png)

4. Click OK to create the data source.

5. Find your new data source in the    Database   tool window   .

* For more information about the Database tool window , see the corresponding [reference topic](database-tool-window.html). > **Tip:** > To see more keyspaces under your new data source node, click the N of M button and select the ones you need. IntelliJ IDEA will introspect and show them. > > > > ![Select databases and schemas to introspect and display in the Database tool window](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/connection_flow_show_databases_and_schemas.png)

* For more information about working with database objects in IntelliJ IDEA, refer to [Database objects](database-objects.html).

* To write and run queries, open the default [query console](query-consoles.html) by clicking the data source and pressing `F4` (Windows), `⌘ ↓` (macOS), `F4` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `F4` (macOS System Shortcuts), `F4` (XWin), `F4` (GNOME), `F4` (KDE), `F4` (Emacs), `F4` (Sublime Text), `F4` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `F4` (NetBeans), `F4` (Visual Studio), `⌘ ↓` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `F12` (Eclipse), `F3` (Eclipse (macOS)).

* To view and edit data of a database object, open [Data editor and viewer](data-editor-and-viewer.html) by double-clicking the object.

![Add the sslenabled option to the JDBC URL](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_ssl_connection_to_cassandra.png)

## See also

### External Links

[Encrypting Cassandra with SSL](https://docs.datastax.com/en/cassandra/3.0/cassandra/configuration/secureSSLIntro.html)

## See also

### Reference

[Data sources and their elements](database-tool-window.html#icons-for-data-sources-and-their-elements) [Data Sources and Drivers dialog](data-sources-and-drivers-dialog.html)

### Tool Windows

[Database tool window](database-tool-window.html)